Dual citizenship 2026 — Germany says yes; what India, Pakistan and Bangladesh say
Germany has allowed dual citizenship for everyone since June 2024. Whether YOU keep your old passport is decided in Delhi, Islamabad or Dhaka: India says no (OCI softens it), Pakistan says yes since January 2026, Bangladesh says yes in practice for EU countries.
Germany stopped asking you to choose
Since 27 June 2024, German law no longer demands you give up your previous citizenship — for any nationality, unchanged by the October 2025 amendment. The question moved home: what does YOUR country's law say when you take the German oath?
Pakistan added Germany to its official dual-nationality list
Jan 2026
The newest and biggest change for desi applicants: Pakistanis naturalizing in Germany may now RETAIN Pakistani citizenship — confirmed on the DGIP list and announced by the Embassy in Berlin. For Indians, nothing changed: Indian law still terminates citizenship automatically.
The German side — settled
The 2024 reform ended the renunciation requirement and the Optionspflicht for ius-soli children. The October 2025 amendment (which killed the 3-year fast-track) did not touch dual citizenship, and the current coalition agreement explicitly keeps it. Political pressure exists (CDU, February 2026) — but as of our last verification the law stands.
🇮🇳 India — no, and it's automatic
Indian Constitution Art. 9 / Citizenship Act 1955 §9: acquiring German citizenship automatically terminates Indian citizenship — no application, no choice. Using an Indian passport afterwards is an offence.
Naturalize in Germany
Day 0Indian citizenship ends by operation of Indian law at this moment.
Surrender the Indian passport
ASAPAt the Indian mission (Berlin embassy / Frankfurt–Munich consulates): surrender + Renunciation/Surrender Certificate. Required before any Indian visa or OCI application.
Apply for OCI
Optional but recommendedThe Overseas Citizen of India card restores lifelong visa-free entry plus residence and work rights in India. It is NOT citizenship: no voting, no public office, restrictions on agricultural land.
OCI trap for mixed-heritage families: OCI is blocked for anyone who is or was a Pakistani or Bangladeshi citizen — or whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were. Factor property and inheritance plans in India into the decision itself, not after.
🇵🇰 Pakistan — yes, since January 2026
Pakistan's DGIP dual-nationality list now includes Germany (entry #20; page updated 2026-01-09), completing a process announced by the Embassy in Berlin. Pakistanis naturalizing in Germany keep Pakistani citizenship — no renunciation, no NICOP workaround needed.
For people who already renounced Pakistani citizenship to become German in earlier years: a reclaim process has been announced, but details were still pending at our last check — watch the DGIP page.
🇧🇩 Bangladesh — yes in practice
Bangladesh lets citizens retain their nationality when acquiring citizenship of the USA, UK, Canada, Australia or EU countries — which includes Germany. Recommended: obtain a Dual Citizenship Certificate from the Ministry of Home Affairs (processed via the Special Branch, roughly 4–6 months) to document the status for NID, passport and property matters.
This is based on official-adjacent portals and established practice, not a fetched statute — confirm the current rules with the Special Branch before making irreversible decisions (property transfers, inheritance planning).
The decision in one table
| Provider | Keep old passport? | Action after naturalizing | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
🇮🇳 India | No (automatic loss) | Surrender passport → renunciation certificate → OCI | OCI blocked by PK/BD ancestry; agricultural land restrictions |
🇵🇰 Pakistan Best | Yes (since 01/2026) | Nothing to renounce | Reclaim process for past renouncers still pending |
🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Yes (EU practice) | Optional Dual Citizenship Certificate (~4–6 months) | Verify with Special Branch; document it for NID/property |
- Keep old passport?
- No (automatic loss)
- Action after naturalizing
- Surrender passport → renunciation certificate → OCI
- Watch out for
- OCI blocked by PK/BD ancestry; agricultural land restrictions
- Keep old passport?
- Yes (since 01/2026)
- Action after naturalizing
- Nothing to renounce
- Watch out for
- Reclaim process for past renouncers still pending
- Keep old passport?
- Yes (EU practice)
- Action after naturalizing
- Optional Dual Citizenship Certificate (~4–6 months)
- Watch out for
- Verify with Special Branch; document it for NID/property
Ready to see your own timeline? The readiness calculator includes the spouse route and permit-type rules; the test trainer handles the exam.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
Keine Rechtsberatung — general information, not legal advice. Foreign-law questions (India/Pakistan/Bangladesh) belong to the respective missions and home-country lawyers.